Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-07

MIR. POwDERLY,s REPORT.
What He Says OF Dissen.ion Among
the kntghts-His Attitude Toward
Socialists and Anarchists.
The knights OF Labor convention opened its
session at Minneapolis, Mimi, yesterday, with a
q motion to suspend the rules and appoint and
committee TO draft resolution TO the memory
OF Thomas Armstrong. The committee on Gre
dentials resumed business at 1890 Petitions
from locals 1424. STA, 34a2 and 36Os, asking TO
be represented by C. j. DriscolL OF Denver Col,
were received. The local assemblies named were
attached TO q district assembly and not entitled
to representation except through the district as
sembly. The petition was refused These
local assemblies are In the district as
K Bucnanan The Credentials Shf piesenssd p BY
Mrs. Marion Todd, Of Michigan, were positively re-
fused, and that lady had to follow In the wake OF
126, OF New York city, Master Workman John
Morrison, next came up on a motion TO reinstate
the district assembly. The motion to reinstate
was ruled out OF order by Grand Master Workman
Powderly.
THE GRAND MASTER woRKMAN's REPORT.
The following is from Mr. Powderly's report TO
the general assembly: "The members OF the
general assembly, the highest tribunal known TO
the laws and regulations, as well as 10 the true
ana 0yal members Oh the order OF the knights OF
Labor, is convened Tor the eleventh time IN regu-
lar session. When the last session OF the general
assembly closed IL dissolved amid the clainor OF
disconnected men and amid the warning of fac
tons 1t was large and unwieldly body, and
from SO many men who were up TO that time
strangers to each other 1t was expecting too
much 10 ask OF them TO enact perfect legislation.
This body Is smaller than Its predecessor, and
expect better things at its hands. We adjourned
year ago with dissensiOn in our ranks; that dis
sension was enlarged upon and scattered 10 the
world by enemies from within and from without
The news OF discord reached the ears OF the en-
plo o OF labor, ana they. IN many instances
weakness and rushed into conflict with our MEM
Oers In various parts OF the country" Here a
complete history or the famous Chicago strike OF
last year Is given In detail
SOCIALISM AND ANARCHY.
1.-THE relation OF the order TO anarchy has taken
up so much space in the public press. report con-
unueS sand has been the subject Of SO much dis
cusson In the assemblies OF some large cities that
IL Is proper 10 speak or II here and report 10 You
my doings In connection Herewith. Let me say
here that nave never, as has been so much as
serted In the press OF the land cOnlounded social
ism with anarchy. l draw a wide line OF distinc-
ton between the two. as every reading, thinking
man must win ask OF the general assembly 10
define the position or The oruer on the attempts
that have been made TO prostitute IL 70 such base
uses as the anarchists would put It. / have never
publicly uttered u sentiment regarding the course
OF Inc seven men who are condemned to death in
Chicago l Will now give my opinion. II these
men uld not have q Tair trial, such as is guaran-
teed every man In the United States, then they
should be granted new TRIAL. Ii they have not
been found guilty OF murder they should not be
hanged Ir Jney are TO be hanged Tor the action
OI UtnerH, II Is not Just. The man VINO threw the
bomo In Chicago should he hanged, and his ac-
completes should receive the punishment allotted
TO such OneaSeS by the laws OF the State OF ILL.,
nola"
All letters relating to the anarchy subject are
quoted at length. The Denver questions were
given In 1ull, and Of the matter M fowderly said
Il regarded the Whole affair as an outrage, and
the questions as Lelug tmpertlnenL, rascally and
which should pass, is one TO demand that every
avowed anarchist be obliged TO withdraw from
the order or be expelled. We have nothing TO fear
the communicating influence or these men who
preach destruction TO the name OF our order, and
VINO at the same time assert that the. are social
lists While giving the lie TO every principle OF so
ciaiism when they advocate violence OF any kind
SOME ADMINISTRATIONS.
MI. Powderly gives an explanation OF his know
ledge OF the Home Club, OF New York, and refers
with some pride TO the Fourth OF July celebra-
lions held at his instanceunder the auspices OF the
Knights OF Labor. He al declares his belief that
Richmond convention was unconstitutional and
OF no binding effect except as warning.
One OF the FIRST recommendations made by the
general master workman IL that the Knights OF
Labor ask at the hands VI Congress the passage OF
a law creating department VI labor, whicn he
declares to be OF great deal more benent than U
tabilahment OF government telegraph system,
to Oe used in the interests OF the people and thinks
the order should go before Congress TO press such
legislation. he also advocates the publication OF
a journal under control OF the order which would
reach every member. IL would make radical
change In the methods OF educating our members,
1t Is not enough that they come TO and go from a
meeting once u week They should have some
thing 10 read as the result OF their visit TO the
assembly. Another feature that would largely
aid the growth and utility OF the order would be
the establishment OF the beneficial system.
HIS RELATIONS 10 SOCIALISM.
''The question OF my being member OF a social.
list organization has been made the subject OF 50
much comment OF late that believe It but fair
to this general assembly 70 make known my con-
who In former years at the head OF the social
lStlc labor party. In 1880 Philip Van Patten, the
national secretary OF the socialistlc labor party,
Was a member OF the general executive board OF
the Knights OF Labor. l became very intimate
with him and we frequently discussed the various
measures OF reform which all men In the move
ment regarded as OF importance. He sent me a red
card OF membership some time about The month
OF august, 1850. The card was paid up by him for
three months. ! regarded it ts as q compliment
airy act on the part OF Brother Van Patten saw
however, that the declaration OF principe OF the
Knights OF Labor contained all OF socialism that
cared 10 advocate and never took any action on
days when We were associated as orrcers OF this
association. never cast vote for the candidates
or That party, was never q member OF any OF its
sections, and had no connection with 1t except in
the manner related above. The use OF firearms or
dynamite Is not advocated BY The socialists; the
cOn1scauon OF property or the distribution OF
wealth, or In fact the Oestowing or wealth or
means on those who have not worked and earned
it, is not socialism,; II is robbery, IT is rapine and
no sane man can advocate such q doctrine. liz be-
hevtng In the declaration or all principles or this
order makes me socialist, then have no den1as
to make; but that / am a member OF any other
society In which questions OF labor or reform are